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Spread of Islamic Papermaking
After the Battle of Samarkand in the 8th century, papermaking technology spread to West Asia, with handmade paper workshops established in Baghdad, D…
Timeline
- c. 900–930Baghdad · IraqLarge-scale handmade paper workshops emerged in Baghdad, producing paper from linen, hemp, and rags through beating, sheet-forming, and drying processes, supplying the court and scriptoria.
- c. 930–970Damascus · SyriaPapermaking technology spread west to Damascus, Cairo, and other places, forming regional papermaking centers; paper quality improved, making it the preferred material for copying classics and administrative documents.
- c. 970–1000Cairo · EgyptPapermaking flourished in Fatimid Cairo, where cheap paper greatly increased private book collections and scholarly correspondence, providing a material foundation for madrasa and hospital archive management.
Sources
- Bloom, Jonathan M. Paper Before Print: The History and Impact of Paper in the Islamic World — Jonathan M. Bloom (2001)
- Hunter, Dard. Papermaking: The History and Technique of an Ancient Craft — Dard Hunter (1978)